244 GRAPES 



wood except to form a trunk and enough of the last year's growth 

 to furnish the buds necessary for the main shoots of the next 

 season (Fig. 170). An examination of the accompanying figures 

 will give a clear idea of the great amount of wood that can be cut 

 away each year. For example, if five or six buds are left to form as 

 many more shoots, there will be as much new wood as the root 

 system can support and bear a crop of fruit. 



The effect of not pruning the vines each year is to so gradually 

 divide the strength of the plant that the new growth in any one part 

 is very limited and the possibility of fruit is thereby reduced. It is 

 therefore difficult to allow vines to remain unpruned for the sake of 



Fig. 169. — The four-cane Kniffin system of trellising grape vines, just after pruning. 

 Two No. 10 wires are stretched. In the two-cane Kniffin (or umbrella) system the right 

 branch would be cut at the trunk, removing the two lower arms. 



having an arbor well covered, without sacrificing fruit production. 

 The best quality and yield is produced on well pruned vines. 

 Arbors cannot be continuously covered with vines in close pruning 

 systems. 



Cultivation. — The annual care of the soil where crops are growing 

 is important. There should be clean cultivation at least during the 

 first half of the season and no large growth of weeds or cover crop 

 should be allowed to form under the vines until the picking season 

 is over. Rye, vetch (Fig. 176), crimson clover or some other crop 

 may be sown about the middle of July or the first of August to 

 form a carpet under the vines and remain during the fall, winter 

 and early spring. 



